Politics-govt

Cabinet exits = uncertainty, questions about energy policy

One expert says the fact that several members of the Obama
administration are leaving office creates a measure of uncertainty
as far as energy policy is concerned.

On one hand, Dan Kish of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) explains
that vacancies at the Environmental Protection
Agency, Interior Department and State Department do create some
uncertainty. The State Department, for instance, is responsible for
reviewing things like the northern leg of the Keystone XL
pipeline.

But on the other hand, he points out that the Senate
confirmation process will provide some answers as to where the
nominees stand on energy policy.

"If the Senate does its job, if difficult questions are asked
about some of the things that have gone wrong in the first four
years of President Obama's administration energy-wise, then it
gives the public an opportunity to hear how they are going to
answer those questions," Kish offers.

On Thursday afternoon, several news outlets reported that Energy
Secretary Steven Chu is stepping down from his Cabinet post. Chu
was criticized early in the Obama administration for saying in 2008
that American's gas prices need to be on the same level as
Europe's. He has since tried to take back that comment. Chu also
told lawmakers in 2012 that he did not own a car (read Daily Caller article).

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